Peer Advocate (Woodland)

Are you doing what you love? We are!

At our core, we are a family-oriented organization that cares about you and our community! Our purpose is to unleash the power of our employees and clients to create a resilient community, one person at a time. Yes, you can make a difference!

As an innovative, learning, and collaborative organization, every position contributes to this purpose and our employees are the heart of who we are. We support healthy work/life balance for our employees and invest in their potential through opportunities for continual learning and growth.

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Yolo Community Care Continuum (YCCC) is a non-profit community-based organization serving individuals with serious mental illness.

We facilitate transformation in the lives of our clients. We are committed to providing quality services that are effective, efficient, and respectful of the individual. Services are responsive to the evolving practices in mental health care and to the needs of our community. Our services help individuals develop the skills necessary to live independently in the community.

This position at Safe Harbor Crisis House, located in Woodland, is a 24-hour short-term crisis residential facility.

BENEFITS

• Pay rate: $21/hour
• Non-exempt
• 10 hours/week
• Paid Sick Time

POSITION SUMMARY

The Peer Advocate is an active member of the team and provides peer support services to clients with serious mental illnesses. The Peer Advocate will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serving as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients in residential settings. The Peer Advocate performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process.

Hiring is contingent upon a full background screening in accordance with California licensing regulations; DOJ/FBI clearance, pre-employment physical and TB clearance. Basic First Aid certification is required prior to employment.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS/SUPERVISION

The Peer Advocate to the Operations Director (and Associate Director if applicable). No supervision will be given to others.

MINIMUM POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Education: High school diploma.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes.
• Special Skills: Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as a team member. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Able to use Office365 products, including but not limited to Word, Excel, and Teams.
• Physical requirements: Must obtain a negative TB test or chest x-ray and clearance on an employment physical. Must be able to lift twenty pounds, view and utilize a computer, documents in writing and/or typed form.
• Other Requirements: Hiring is contingent upon a full background screening in accordance with California licensing regulations; DOJ/FBI clearance, pre-employment physical and TB clearance. Basic First Aid certification is required prior to employment.

STAFFING AND TRAINING REQUIREMENT

• Punctual and regular attendance is an essential responsibility. Employees are expected to work as scheduled, on time and prepared to start. Employees are expected to remain at work for the entire work schedule.
• Attendance of monthly staff meeting is required
• Follows sick policy and provides proper notification of absence and tardiness in accordance with YCCC’s policy
• You may be directed to work at another agency site when necessary
• Annual training hours required: 20 hours per year

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

• Direct Service
• Documentation
• Universal Criteria
• Physical, Environmental, and Mental Factors

**This job description is not all inclusive, other duties required as assigned. This job description is not designated to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Direct Service

• Assist clients in articulating personal goals for recovery using one-to-one and group sessions. During these sessions the Peer Advocate will support clients in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, support, and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.
• Assist clients in working with their case manager or treatment team in determining the steps needs to take to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery.
• Assist clients in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of locating and joining existing groups.
• Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist clients in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.
• Independently or with periodic assistance of treatment team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups; discussions will be utilized where clients will share common problems in daily living and methods they have employed to manage and cope with these problems. As one who has availed themselves to mental health services, the Peer Advocate will share their own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports and resources they use. As much as possible, the Peer Advocate will share their own recovery story and as the facilitator of these sessions and will demonstrate how they have directed their own recovery.
• Use ongoing individual and group sessions to teach clients how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum which allows group members and Peer Advocate to share their experiences.
• Support clients’ vocational choices and assist them in choosing a job that matches their strengths, overcoming job-related anxiety by reviewing job applications, and providing interview tips.
• Assist clients in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.
• Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience.
• Assist the client in obtaining decent and affordable housing of his/her choice in the most integrated, independent, and least intrusive or restrictive environment by taking them out to view housing, either driving them or riding with them on public transportation.
• Models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery-based services that will aid the client in daily living.
• Assist in obtaining services that suit that individual’s recovery needs by providing names of staff, community resources and groups that may be useful. Inform clients about community and natural support and how to use these in the recovery process. Community resources may include but are not limited to the social security office, Department of Health and Human Services, local services agencies, library, apartment complexes and other types of housing, etc.
• Assist clients in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy. This will be accomplished through regular meetings, individual or group sessions, using role playing/modeling techniques the Peer Advocate provides opportunities for others to show/demonstrate how they have handled similar problems, how to present themselves in certain situations, or how to handle problems that may arise in interactions with others.
• Maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments and share recovery materials with others at continuing education seminars and other venues to be developed to support recovery-oriented services; and attend continuing education seminars and other in-service training when offered.
• Facilitate peer led recovery groups on mental health and substance abuse.

Documentation

• All program documentation, are completed according to the following criteria:
• o Timely
• o Objectively (behavioral observations are recorded accurately)
• o Thoroughly
• o Legibly
• Correctly follows documentation procedures
• Treatment plan goals are developed in tandem with the client and are time limited, observable, measurable, and achievable
• Documents will measure the following treatment/recovery plan:
• o identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and recovery goals
• o interventions to assist the client with reaching their goals for recovery
• o progress made toward goals
• Progress Notes are to be completed during shift

Universal Criteria
These criteria are evaluated for every YCCC position

• Demonstrate respect for clients and co-workers
• Behave in an ethical manner per agency and program policies and procedures
• Adhere to agency and program policies and procedures
• Attend and complete required training
• Follow professional dress code
• Be on time for shift and ready to work
• Provide proper notification of absence and tardiness in accordance with YCCC’s Employee Handbook
• Maintain a helpful and positive attitude so as not to undermine other YCCC staff, the leadership team, the agency’s collaborators, or the agency
• Perform duties in a self-directed manner
• Accept direction from management team and accepts assignments graciously
• Follow universal precautions
• Utilize creative and flexible approaches to accomplish tasks
• Utilize customer service approach with clients, family members and community members
• Follow safety rules and regulations
• Utilize a team approach to client care
• Communicate effectively

If all of this sounds like something you were born to do, then we would love to hear from you! For information, a full job description, or to apply, please visit our website at y3c.org!

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $21.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 per week

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Medical specialties:

• Psychiatry

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Morning shift

Application Question(s):

• Do you have knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes?
• Do you understand that hiring is contingent upon a full background screening in accordance with California licensing regulations; DOJ/FBI clearance?

License/Certification:

• CPR/AED/First Aid (Required)

Work Location: In person